This study investigated the role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells c3 (NFATc3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 levels were elevated in human and mouse AAD. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced thoracic AAD (TAAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression in mice, contrary to VSMC-NFATc3 overexpression. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and maintained the VSMC contractile phenotype. Nuclear NFATc3 targeted and transcriptionally upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and MMP2, promoting ECM degradation and AAD development. NFATc3 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching by binding to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and inhibiting its phosphorylation in the VSMC cytoplasm. Restoring eEF2 reversed the beneficial effects in VSMC-specific NFATc3-knockout mice. Cabamiquine-targets eEF2 and inhibits protein synthesis-inhibited AAD development and progression in VSMC-NFATc3-overexpressing mice. VSMC-NFATc3 promoted VSMC switch and ECM degradation while exacerbating AAD development, making it a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating AAD.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of XELOX regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ colon cancer.Methods The clinical data of 50 patients with clinical stage Ⅱ(T4)Ⅲ colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical resection at general surgery department of our hospital from January 1,2012 to January 1,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into neoadjuvant chemotherapy group(NACT)and adjuvant chemotherapy group(ACT)according to whether they received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX regimen.The general clinical data,adverse reactions of chemotherapy,surgical complications,operation time,intraoperative blood loss,hospitalization time,hospitalization cost,negative conversion rate of tumor markers,tumor remission rate,tumor downstaging rate,tumor response grade after chemotherapy,postoperative disease-free survival curve,and overall survival curve were retrospectively analyzed and compared among the groups.Results There were no significant differences in operative complications,postoperative exhaust time and hospital stay between NACT group and ACT group(P＞0.05).The adverse reactions of chemotherapy,the negative conversion rate of postoperative CEA and CA19-9,the duration of operation,the amount of bleeding,and the hospitalization cost in NACT group were significantly better than those in ACT group(P＜0.05).In terms of DFS and OS survival curves,with the extension of time,the decline of the NACT survival curve was smaller than that of the ACT group,and there was a significant difference in DFS survival curve(P＜0.05),but no significant difference in OS survival curve(P＞0.05).Conclusion XELOX neoadjuvant chemotherapy is safe and effective in the treatment of stage Ⅱ(T4)and stage Ⅲcolon cancer.

Objective:To investigate the effects of antibacterial absorbable suture closure in the repair of small range of bone defect wounds due to deep sternal wound infection after median thoracotomy.Methods:This study was a retrospective non-randomized clinical controlled study. A total of 32 patients (20 males and 12 females, aged (58±11) years) who met the inclusion criteria and underwent closure with antibacterial absorbable sutures (hereinafter referred to as direct closure surgery) admitted to Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital of Southern Medical University (hereinafter referred to as our hospital) from October 2017 to December 2021 were included in direct closure group. A total of 39 patients (27 males and 12 females, aged (59±11) years) who met the inclusion criteria and received bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap packing repair admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to January 2020, were included in muscle flap packing group. In the two groups, sternal infected wounds were thoroughly debrided during stage Ⅰ surgery, followed by wound repair during stage Ⅱ surgery. The width of sternal cross-section defects after debridement was less than 1 cm for patients in the two groups. For patients in direct closure group, stage Ⅱ wound repair involved intermittent sutures to the anterior sternal plate or full-thickness sternum with a total of 6 or 7 double sternal sutures. Relevant data including the duration of the stage Ⅱ wound repair surgery and the volume of blood loss during surgery, length of hospital stay, and bacterial wound infection of patients in the two groups were recorded. The postoperative complications and wound healing of patients in the two groups were recorded. During follow-up, the wound infection or recurrence of patients in the two groups and the sternal healing of patients in direct closure group were observed.Results:Compared with those in muscle flap packing group, the duration of stage Ⅱ wound repair surgery and length of hospital stay of patients in direct closure group were significantly shorter (with t values of 13.61 and 6.25, respectively, P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative blood loss volume of the stage Ⅱ wound repair surgery between the two groups ( P>0.05). The main bacterial infection in the two groups was Staphylococcus. In direct closure group, one patient had exudation in the wound two weeks post-operation, however the wound healed well after two weeks of conservative dressing changes; the wounds of the other patients healed well. In muscle flap packing group, 5 patients had postoperative complications, of which one patient died, and the wounds of 4 patients healed after dressing change or reoperation; the wounds of the other patients healed well. There was no statistically significant difference in complication incidence of patients between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up of 22-45 months, there was no re-infection or recurrence in the wound of patients in direct closure group and surviving patients in muscle flap packing group, the sternum of patients in the direct closure group achieved anatomical union. Conclusions:Direct closure surgery can not only effectively repair sternal cross-sectional defects with width below 1 cm due to deep sternal wound infections after median thoracotomy, but can also significantly shorten the operation time and duration of hospitalization.

Objective:To analyze the influence of work engagement and self-efficacy of nurses on clinical practice ability in burn intensive care unit (BICU), and to explore its potential pathways of action.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted. From May to October 2020, a total of 30 hospitals with BICU in China were selected by stratified sampling method. Among BICU nurses who met the inclusion criteria, their clinical practice ability, work engagement, and self-efficacy were evaluated by self-evaluation scale of oriented problem-solving behavior in nursing practice (OPSN), Utrecht work engagement scale (UWES), and general self-efficacy scale (GSES), respectively. The total scale scores of each index and the average item scores were recorded. The self-designed general data questionnaire was used to investigate the nurses' gender, age, marital status, education background, working years, professional title, and the economic region of the hospital that they belonged to. The total scale scores of the above-mentioned three evaluation indexes were compared after the classification of nurses according to general data, and the data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test or one-way analysis of variance. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the total scale scores of the three evaluation indexes. Based on the total scale scores of the above-mentioned three evaluation indexes, a structural equation model was established, the mediation analysis of the relationship among the three evaluation indexes and the pathway analysis of the structural model were conducted, and the Bootstrap method was used to verify the pathways of action. Results:A total of 401 questionnaires were distributed, and 337 valid questionnaires were returned, with a valid return rate of 84.04%. The total scale scores of clinical practice ability, work engagement, and self-efficacy of 337 nurses were 98.2±11.7, 67.7±18.6, and 26.6±5.6, respectively, and the average item scores were 3.9±0.5, 4.5±1.2, and 2.7±0.6, respectively. Among the 337 nurses, the majority were female, aged 40 or below, married, and had a bachelor's degree with work experience of ≤10 years; both nurses with professional nurse title and nurses from the Southeast region accounted for about 50%. There were statistically significant differences in the total scale score of clinical practice ability among nurses with different ages, education backgrounds, working years, and professional titles (with F values of 3.26, 4.36, 3.12, and 2.80, respectively, P<0.05). There was statistically significant difference in the total scale score of work engagement among nurses with different working years ( F=4.50, P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the total scale score of self-efficacy among nurses with different ages, working years, and professional titles (with F values of 4.91, 4.50, and 2.91, respectively, P<0.05). The total scale score of nurses' work engagement was significantly positively correlated with the total scale score of clinical practice ability and the total scale score of self-efficacy (with r values of 0.30 and 0.51, respectively, P<0.05). The total scale score of nurses' self-efficacy was significantly positively correlated with the total scale score of clinical practice ability ( r=0.37, P<0.05). The model had good adaptability, and the intermediary model was established. Nurses' work engagement had a significantly positive effect on both self-efficacy and clinical practice ability (with β values of 0.54 and 0.16, respectively, P<0.05), and nurses' self-efficacy had a significantly positive effect on clinical practice ability ( β=0.29, P<0.05). Work engagement had a direct effect on self-efficacy and clinical practice ability, and self-efficacy had a direct effect on clinical practice ability and played a mediating role between work engagement and clinical practice ability. Bootstrap validation showed that self-efficacy played a significantly mediating role in the influence of work engagement on clinical practice ability (with effect size of 0.16, with 95% confidence interval of 0.08-0.24, P<0.05), accounting for half of the total effect of work engagement on clinical practice ability (with effect size of 0.32). Conclusions:BICU nurses have an above-average level of clinical practice ability, a medium level of self-efficacy, and a high level of work engagement. Work engagement and self-efficacy are positively correlated with clinical practice ability. Work engagement can directly affect clinical practice ability or indirectly affect clinical practice ability through the mediating role of self-efficacy.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with laparotomy in the treatment of severe liver injury.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 48 patients with severe liver injury admitted to 909th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force (Affiliated Dongnan Hospital of Xianmen University Medical College) from December 2013 to June 2020, including 28 males and 20 females; aged 16-75 years [(45.7±6.2)years]. There were 25 patients with grade III, 15 grade IV and 8 grade V according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification. After general treatments such as infusion and hemostasis, TAE was performed in 26 patients (TAE group) and laparotomy in 22 patients (laparotomy group). The operation time and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Erythrocyte, hemoglobin and serum creatinine were compared before operation and at postoperative 1 day. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were analyzed before operation and at postoperative 1, 3, 7 days. Complications were observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-60 months [(17.1±9.1)months]. The operation time and length of hospital stay were (65.7±9.2)minutes and (21.6±6.6)days in TAE group, significantly shorter than (162.5±28.1)minutes and (31.5±7.4)days in laparotomy group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups referring to erythrocyte, hemoglobin and serum creatinine before operation and at postoperative 1 day (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in ALT and AST between the two groups before operation (all P>0.05). TAE group showed ALT level of 1 154(884, 1 698)U/L, (975.3±400.9)U/L and (403.4±232.9)U/L at postoperative 1, 3, 7 days, significantly lower than 2 053(1 965, 2 132)U/L, (1 604.1±188.2)U/L and (915.3±160.5)U/L in laparotomy group (all P<0.05). TAE group showed AST level of (1 313.2±542.0)U/L, 525(302, 971)U/L and 174(84, 324)U/L at postoperative 1, 3, 7 days, significantly lower than (1 962.9±245.4)U/L, 1 478(1 089, 1 677)U/L and 837(674, 1 006)U/L in laparotomy group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The complication rate was 26.9% (7/26) in TAE group, significantly lower than 59.1% (13/22) in laparotomy group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:For severe liver injury, TAE can significantly shorten operation time and length of hospital stay, accelerate the recovery of liver function and reduce the complication rate in comparison with laparotomy.

Objective:To recognize the characteristics of necrotizing fasciitis patients complicated with sepsis and summarize the experience the treatment.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted. The clinical data of 57 patients with necrotizing fasciitis complicated with sepsis admitted to Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from July 2009 to December 2019 was analyzed by collecting such factors as gender, age, complications, infection sites, pathogens, surgery information, treatment options and outcome. The patients were divided into debridement group ( n = 14) and control group ( n = 43) according to whether the debridement was completed within 48 hours of admission, and the mortality during hospitalization between the two groups was compared. A telephone follow-up had been done to record the long-term outcome of these patients. Results:Among 57 patients with necrotizing fasciitis complicated with sepsis, there were 43 males and 14 females with the average age of (57.9±12.1) years old. Most of the underlying diseases were diabetes mellitus (70.17%), other diseases included hypertension (8.77%), tumor chemotherapy (7.02%), liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis, 7.02%), coronary artery heart disease (3.51%), systemic lupus erythematosus (3.51%), etc. Most of the infection site was lower limbs (71.93%). There were 78 pathogens cultured in 57 patients, in which 52 were non-drug resistant bacteria (66.67%), and 26 were drug resistant bacteria (33.33%). There were 40 Gram positive (G +) bacteria (51.28%), 29 Gram negative (G -) bacteria (37.18%), 8 fungi (10.26%) and 1 mixed bacteria (1.28%). Finally, of 57 patients, 46 patients were cured, and 11 patients died with hospital mortality of 19.30%. Among 57 patients, the hospital mortality in the debridement group was significantly lower than that in the control group [0% (0/14) vs. 25.58% (11/43), P < 0.05]. Among the 46 cured patients, 11 had accepted amputations, accounting for 23.91%. In December 2020, 43 patients who were cured (3 patients were lost to follow-up) were followed up by telephone. Twenty-three patients were completely self-care, 9 patients were partly self-care, 8 patients were completely unable to take care of themselves, and 3 patients died. Conclusions:Necrotizing fasciitis with sepsis mostly occurs in people with weakened immunity, and has a high mortality and disability rate. Early identification and active surgical debridement may be the key to improve the treatment effect.

Objective:To summarize the oblique branches found in the transfer of anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) and to handle the issues of oblique branch.Methods:Thirty patients who require surgery of ALTF transfer from May, 2017 to October, 2019 were enrolled. CTA examination was perfected prior surgery and the origin of ALTF vessels was preliminarily determined. During the surgery, Three-longitudinal-and-five-transverse methods were used to locate and design the flap. The ALTF was taken according to the flap design. Attention should be paid to the location of the oblique branch and the separation of the vessels of oblique branch to avoid a damage as much as possible. The vessels of oblique branch should be completely explored and separated. One or 2 vascular pedicles were cut according to whether the oblique branch vessels and the descending branch vessels were joined together during surgery. Clamping tests were carried out on the 2 vascular pedicles to determine an arterial blood supply. Super drainage of vascular pedicle veins according to the situation of blood circulation. After the surgery, routine treatment was carried out. Blood supply, skin temperature, swelling degree, exudation and survival of the flap were closely observed and regular follow-up was carried out.Results:Among the 30 ALTF examined by CTA, 13 patients were identified with oblique branch vessels before operation. During operation, 11 oblique branch vessels (The occurrencce rate was 36.6%)were found to enter the flap, and were completely preserved. Of the 11 identified oblique branch vessels, 8 had 2 vascular pedicles taken and the vascular pedicles were treated by venous super drainage technique. The postoperative blood supply of the flap was good; The skin temperature was closed to surrounding normal skin; Swelling of flap was minor and there was little seepage. The flaps all survived after surgery with stage one healing. Followed-up time was 3-32 (average 16.1) months. The recipient site healing was good, and the function and appearance were satisfactory. The joint movement at the donor site was normal, and there was no obvious loss of local sensation.Conclusion:More than one third of the oblique branches appear in this group. The oblique branch vessels should be preserved as much as possible to avoid issues in relation to the oblique branch. Reasonable handling of oblique branch is the key to the success of the surgery.

Objective:To understand the infection status of key human parasites in Yantai City, Shandong Province, and to provide scientific basis for establishing strategy for prevention and control of the disease.Methods:According to the "National Investigation Plan of Human Parasitic Infection Status" and implementation rules, stratified cluster random sampling method was adopted to select 39 survey sites in 10 counties (cities, districts) of Yantai City from 2015 to 2019. The respondents were residents in each survey site, with no less than 200 people in each survey site. The modified garten thick smear method (one fecal two test) and the direct smear method were respectively used to detect the eggs of intestinal worms and the trophozoites or cysts of intestinal protozoa. Besides, the transparent adhesive paper anal swab was used to detect pinworms in children aged 3 - 9 years. SPSS 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Comparison between infection rates was analyzed by χ 2 test or Fisher's exact probability test with 0.05 of test level. Results:A total of 8 507 people were investigated from 2015 to 2019. The total infection rate of intestinal parasites was 1.75% (149/8 507), and no protozoa was detected. A total of 4 species of intestinal worms were detected, including 1.41% (120/8 507) of whipworm, 0.16% (14/8 507) of ascaris, 0.14% (12/8 507) of pinworm and 0.07% (6/8 507) of hookworm. Among 149 cases of worm infection, 3 cases were ascaris and whipworm mixed infection, accounting for 2.01%. The infection rate of pinworm was 1.90% (11/578) in 578 children aged 3 - 9 years detected by transparent adhesive paper anal swab. From 2015 to 2019, the incidence of intestinal parasites infection first increased and then decreased, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 469.38, P < 0.05). The infection rates of male and female were 1.72% (70/4 071) and 1.78% (79/4 436), respectively, with no significant difference between them (χ 2 = 0.05, P > 0.05). There was a significant difference of intestinal parasites infection rate in different age groups (χ 2 = 23.34, P < 0.05). The infection rate of intestinal parasites in ≥80 years old group was the highest with 2.84% (8/282). There was a significant difference of intestinal parasites infection rate among different professionals (χ 2 = 41.71, P < 0.05). Intestinal parasites infection rate of farmers was the highest with 2.58% (113/4 388). There was a significant difference of intestinal parasites infection rate among people with different cultural degree(χ 2 = 51.91, P < 0.05). Infection rate of illiterate people was the highest with 4.98% (16/321). Parasitic infection was detected in 10 counties (cities, districts), except Laishan District. The highest infection rate was Haiyang City (10.18%, 102/1 002), and the results of other counties (cities, districts) were lower than 1.20%. There was significant difference in infection rate in different regions (χ 2 = 433.87, P < 0.05). The infection rate in urban area was 0.51% (22/4 281), and the infection rate in rural area was 3.01% (127/4 226). The difference between urban and rural areas was statistically significant (χ 2 = 76.70, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The infection rate of intestinal parasites has been reduced to a lower level in rural area of Yantai City, and farmers are the key prevention and control population of intestinal parasites infection, so attention should be paid to strengthen the publicity of parasitic disease prevention and control.

To investigate the effect of venous super drainage applying in free flaps. Methods From June, 2017 to December, 2018, 7 cases who had severe soft tissue injuries were treated with free flap. Cause of injury: 1 electric injuries, 2 tumor-related wounds, 1 deep burns, 2 mechanical trauma, and 1 necrotizing fasciitis. All patients were underwent free flap transplantation. There were 5 cases of anterolateral thigh artery perforator flap, 1 case of superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap, and 1 case of first dorsal metatarsal artery perforator flap.The application of venous super-drainage technology was carried out according to needs and specific conditions. Two sets of venous passages were prepared in both recipient and donor site to form a double set of venous reflux super-drainage mode. Blood supply, swelling, exudation, secondary exploration and survival rate of the flap were observed after operation, and regularly followed-up. Results All 7 flaps survived. Venous super drainage technique was ap-plied in 7 cases. No arteriovenous crisis occurred after the operation. The flaps had good blood circulation, slight swelling, less exudation, rapid edema regression and no secondary surgical exploration. Followed-up for 2-18 (average 10.5) months, there was no infection recurred. Flaps survived well, and the donor sites healed well without sensory loss.The flexion and extension function of joint was normal. Conclusion The technique of venous super-drainage prepares 2 sets of venous systems for the free flap in the treatment of vascular pedicle in the free flap repair operation, which is conducive to reducing the venous crisis after flap surgery, reducing flap edema, reducing exudation, reducing secondary surgical exploration and improving the survival rate of the flap.

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of ivermectin on the migration and invasion of human gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and MGC-803 and its mechanism. METHODS： After treated with 0， 2.5， 5， 10， 20， 40 μmol/L ivermectin for 24 h， inhibitory rate of human gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and MGC-803 were detected by MTT assay. Effects of 5 μmol/L ivermectin and phosphate buffercontaining 0.67‰ dimethyl sulfoxide （control group） for 24 h on the migration and invasion of` gastric cancer cells BGC-823 and MGC-803 were observed by Transwell chamber invasion assay.Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression of TGF-β1， TGF-βR， Smad2 and Smad3 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） markers E-cadherin， N-cadherin， Vimentin， Snail and EMT transduction pathway TGF-β/smad of BGC-823 and MGC-803 cells after treated with 5， 10 μmol/L ivermectin and phosphate buffercontaining 0.67‰ dimethyl sulfoxide （control group） for 24 h. RESULTS： Ivermectin could inhibit the growth of BGC-823 and MGC-803， inhibitory rate of it was positively correlated with its concentration. Compared with control group， the number of migration and invasion BGC-823 and MGC-803 cells were decreased significantly after treated with 5 μmol/L ivermectin （P＜0.01 or P＜0.001）； the expression of E-cadherin protein was enhanced significantly in BGC-823 and MGC-803 cells after treated with 5 and 10 μmol/L ivermectin （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 or P＜0.001）； the protein expression of N-cadherin， Vimentin， Snail， TGF-βR， Smad2 and Smad3 were decreased significantly （P＜0.05， P＜0.01 or P＜0.001）； protein expression of TGF-β1 was decreased significantly after treated with 10 μmol/L ivermectin （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： Ivermectin can significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells BGC-823 and MGC-803， and inhibiting the biological activity of EMT by reducing the expression of TGF-β/smad pathway is one of the mechanisms that inhibit the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells.